8 Survival Tips For First Time Fathers & Entrepreneurs

Don’t panic. Focus.When I quit my job to start my entrepreneurial journey I didn’t know that we were already blessed to have our first child in less than 9 months. I admit that fear took hold of a part of me. Granted, the upcoming responsibility weighted considerably on me but I had to face it. Don’t panic. Instead consider this great news as THE greatest motivation of all.

Manage your partnerI wish to everybody to have a wife as supportive and understanding as I have. The problem with supportive people is that we tend to take them for granted. Make sure you don’t. If you think you’re going through a lot remember that she’s probably going through much more. Just like in your startup, you need a strong team at home, and it’s up to you to make it happen.

Take the morning shiftTrust me, there’s no better wake up call than a baby wanting to eat! Use that and take the early morning shift. You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve with the extra time you have when you’re up and running by 7:00 am. Hit the coffee machine and go make the best of that new day!

Cash-flow. Cash-flow. Cash-flow.Do I have to say more? If cash is king for startups it’s the ultimate emperor for startups with a growing family on the side. Stories of entrepreneurs compromizing on quality of living for the greater good are nothing less than abundant. You can compromize when you’re on your own but it’s not as easy to do it for your baby. Be smart in using your resources, be creative, if you can generate fast cash from small engagements do it but don’t lose focus on the bigger picture.

Be smart in social activitiesMeeting people, new and old acquaintances, has always been the best aspect of work and life to me. But it takes time, and time is the luxury you really don’t have. As important as it can be, socializing has to be optimized just like everything else. Be selective in your activities, weighing their importance, their return and don’t hesitate to say No to some.

Stay in shapeAs the Arabic saying goes, a healthy mind is in a healthy body. You need both of them to be at their best performance level so make sure you maintain your body well. Sleep well, eat well and don’t skip working out. Even if you don’t have time and it seems to be the lowest of your priorities don’t let go. You can skip weight lifting, you’ll be doing plenty of that gradually but don’t skip a run or a swim at least three times a week.

OptimizeMore to do in less time? Oh yeah… Big time! Train yourself to take advantage of every single minute and optimize your performance. Kill your tasks as soon as they arise, or the soonest possible. Leverage technology to get organized and fast. Say No when you have to and when you say Yes make it as fast as you can.

You ‘re twice blessed. Enjoy it!You were blessed with the greatest gift of life and with the opportunity of pursuing your own dream and passion, both are priceless, enjoy them to the max. It’s true that both are also fragile, demanding and exhausting but their reward can be worth each and every sacrifice you make. Stay positive, believe in yourself and in God and enjoy every moment. You will make it!